SUS Resident Charged With Attempted Murder

By Nicholas Briano

Amentally ill man living in the Services for the Underserved (SUS) home in Rockaway Beach was charged with attempted murder this week for allegedly stabbing two women inside the home, leaving one in critical condition, according to police.

The Services for the Underserved home in Rockaway Beach was the scene of a stabbing this week, in which the suspect was charged with attempted murder. Carlos Lago, 61, who resides at the SUS home, located at 318 Beach 85 Street, was in the recreation room of the home at approximately 10 p.m. last Friday, when he took a 12-inch knife and allegedly stabbed Maria Delaney, 53, and Regina Stewart, 44, numerous times.

When police arrived at the scene they found both Delaney and Stewart lying on the floor of the recreation room. Delaney suffered four stab wounds in her back and two to her chest. She was rushed to Jamaica Hospital and is listed in critical condition with a punctured lung.

Stewart suffered a six-inch slash across her face and was treated at Peninsula Hospital, according to reports. She reportedly received 20 stitches to the outside of her face and five more on the inside.

Police apprehended Lago in the hallway of the home and was identified by Stewart and a caseworker.

According to SUS's website, the Rockaway Beach home hosts 71 adults living with mental illness. Founded in 1978, the home aids individuals and families facing challenges stemming from mental illness, developmental disability, physical disability, AIDS, homelessness, unemployment and poverty.

"SUS is concerned about the well being of all those involved in this incident. As a human services provider we are bound by confidentiality and cannot comment further as this is now a police matter," SUS spokesperson Judith Jackson said in a statement.

Lago was arraigned and remanded on Monday in Queens Criminal Court. He was charged with second degree attempted murder, two counts of first degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. His next court date is August 3.